Aldabra Tortoise Care Guide (Size, Diet & Lifespan)

(Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Quick Facts:

Appearance & Distinctive Features:

Shell:

Aldabra Giant Tortoises have an extremely large, highly domed shell that is both thick and incredibly strong. The shell is typically dark gray to charcoal black in color and becomes more rugged with age. Its rounded shape helps protect against predators and environmental conditions.

In many individuals, the front edge of the shell may flare slightly upward, which can assist with grazing low vegetation. This domed structure is a key feature that distinguishes them from saddleback type tortoises.

Skin:

Their skin is thick, leathery, and often compared to that of an elephant. It ranges from gray to dark brown and is covered in deep wrinkles.

These wrinkles are not just for appearance they serve important functions, including:

• Allowing flexibility and movement despite their massive size
• Helping retain moisture in dry environments
• Providing protection from sun exposure and rough terrain

Size:

• Aldabra Giant Tortoises are one of the largest tortoise species in the world.
• Typical size: 34–36 inches in shell length
• Weight range: 250–550 lbs
• Some exceptionally large individuals can exceed 600 lbs
• Their massive size is a defining characteristic and requires significant space and long term commitment in captivity.

Sexual Dimorphism:

There are noticeable differences between males and females:

• Males: Larger overall size, longer and thicker tails, and a slightly concave plastron (bottom shell) to aid in mating
• Females: Slightly smaller, with flatter plastrons and shorter, stubbier tails

These differences become more apparent as the tortoises mature.

Enclosure & Setup:

Indoor Setup (Hatchlings & Juveniles Only)

• Indoor Keeping*– Used for young tortoises only. Adults get to big to be kept indoors.
• Size– For hatchling I would go 4x2ft, juveniles I would go about 6x3ft, and for larger juveniles before outdoors 8x4ft. These tortoise get big, so everything is bigger.
• Floor space is most important. Tortoise tables are probably the way to go for this species.
• Substrate– I would use topsoil, coco coir, mulch, and hay. I like to use mix substrates to help keep moisture and drainage.
• Always provide a basking area, have a heat gradient.
• Always have a water dish and hides the turtle can escape too.

Outdoors:

• Outdoor Keeping– This is the best way to keep bigger species like Aldabras. These guys get big so you are aiming toward building a ranch not a tortoise enclosure.
• Size– For subadults I would go minimum 20ftx20ft, for adults you want to do 500-1000sqft. or larger. Ideally you want a nice big grazing yard for them.
• Areas Provided– sunny and shaded areas. This allows them to regulate their temperature.
• Substrate– Hard packed dirt or soil. Plant lots of grass, and grazing leafy plants. I like to plant prickly pear and hibiscus for the flowers and leaves. Get creative with the editable plants.
• Shelter– Make sure to have good strong shelters for your tortoise to retreat to and sleep in. If you live in a colder climate you can make it a heated shelter to give your Aldabra a place to keep warm.
• Water Dish– Always provide water, Aldabras love to soak so small ponds or mudholes also are nice to add. Fresh water however should always be provided.

Heating, Temperature & Lighting:

Heating:

• Heat Emitters & Deep Heat Projector– these are great way to heat up areas or to create a heated area without light. Deep heat projectors would work well for younger Aldabras.
• Radiant heat panels -are great to use in heated insulated shelters. They will heat up a shelter and can be attached to a thermostat.
• Oiled filled heater– also is a good cost efficient way to heat a big heated shed or shelter. They need to be out of reach of the tortoise however.
• Heat mats– like Kane heat mates also work well and wont burn big tortoises.

Temperatures:

• Day Temperatures: 80-95*F is Idea.
• Basking Temperatures: 90-100*F Is what you want to aim for. Outdoors have open sunny spots with rocks to help retain heat.
• Night Temperatures: 70-74*F is idea at night. Use heated hides or shelters to help achieve this.
• Winter Temps: When its cold bring your tortoise indoors or you must have a heated shelter.

Lighting:

• UVB Lighting: When housing indoors use a UVB bulb. I like to use florescent tubes 5.0 or 10.0. A MVB can also be used if you have the space.
• Basking – Use a basking bulb indoors to make sure your tortoise can warm up.
• Nigh time– As mentioned before night light shouldn’t be needed. If you do need to use one try to use a non bright bulb like red or blue.

Substrate & Humidity:

• Substrate indoors– They like moderate humidity so I would go with some soil, coco coir and sand mix. Make it pretty firm.
• Substrate Outdoors– Go with natural firm compact dirt with soil top. Orchard grass and orchid bark for hides or sections also work well. Natural grass for grazing is also nice if you can keep it alive.
• Humidity Indoors– For indoors keep humidity a little higher at 40-75% Indoors are usually younger tortoises and this will help with pyramiding as they grow.
• Humidity outdoors– For outdoors keep the humidity around 40-60%. Use plants and even humid hides to help with this. Outdoors you might not be able to keep the humidity up so microclimates are important.

Diet, Feeding, & Water:

Diet: (Herbivorous)

• Primary Foods: Grasses, hay, weeds, hibiscus leaves, mulberry leaves, dandelion greens.
• Supplemental Veggies: Squash, carrots, bell peppers, other leafy greens.
• Fruits (treats only): Papaya, melon, apple slices, bananas and mangos.
• Supplements: Calcium powder is good to use a few times a week. This will help them grow and keep there shell and frame strong.
• Commercial food: Mazuri Tortoise diet is a great commercial product that pretty trusted. Use it as part of a diet to help fill and keep the right supplemental balance.

Feeding:

• Graze daily on pasture or provide fresh greens every morning.
• Feeding commercial food 2-3x a week.
• Primary feed should be grass and grazing. Flowers, leaves, greens should be feed daily or every two days.

Water:

• Fresh water daily is important for this species.
• Large shallow pan or trough works great.
• Large water dish/ pond that they can easily walk in and out of.
• Large water dish or mud holes can keep them cool during hot days.
• Shade over the water dish helps keep the water cool, keeps the water from growing algae, and helps with evaporation.

Behavior & Daily Care:

• Diurnal– Most active early mornings and late evening when it cools down. On cooler days they can graze all day.
• Midday heat– Will find shade or retreat back to their hides to avoid the heat.
• Generally gentle giants—can recognize caregivers and learn feeding routines.
• Soaking– they will use shallow water dishes or mud wallows to keep cool.
• Handle minimally– always support their heavy body fully. Tortoises like all reptiles get stressed when handled to much.

These tortoises are generally calm, but you might wonder, do tortoises bite?

Health & Common Issues:

• Pyramiding: Caused by low humidity or poor diet—maintain humidity and proper nutrition.
• Respiratory Infections: Avoid cold, damp conditions without warmth. Avoid cold and wet. Warm and wet isn’t as bad but make sure to always have a dry area.
• Parasites: Regular fecal checks recommended. Most the time parasites take over during illness or stress.
• Shell Injuries: Use predator-proof enclosures and smooth fence edges. Raccoons, cats, birds all can be a threat to a tortoise.

Breeding & Reproduction:

• Breeding season– Usually between February-May. With females laying eggs between June-September.
• Sextual Maturity– usually around 20-30 years. Depends on size as well.
• Clutch size– Females lay 9–25 eggs a clutch in sandy nests. Can lay multiple clutches a year.
• Incubation: 95 days- 120+days. At 81*F-86*F.
• Hatchlings: Require warm, humid enclosures and daily soaks. usually 2-3inches in size.

FAQs:

Resources & Next Steps:

• Full Care Guide → /care-guides/
• Diet & Nutrition → /diet/
• Habitat & Enclosures → /habitat/
• Gear Reviews → /gear-reviews/